Gryphon's Pride - 3

"Students." Professor McGonagall spoke as she strode into the common room. "Please turn in your schedule change requests. I will present you with your completed list tomorrow at breakfast."

Hermione was the first in line. She bounced with energy as she held over the new list. The Professor looked over the list. She tapped it with her wand and piece of parchment vanished. The process was repeated until all of the lists had been turned in. Hermione pulled the two wizards over to a nearby cluster of chairs to watch people give their choices to the professor. Harry didn't understand why, but it made his friend happy, so he didn't mind.

"What did you choose?" Hermione asked Ron and Harry.

"I swapped Divination with Practical Magic." Harry replied. "I'll check out Alchemy after Christmas."

"You dropped Divination?" Ron huffed. "We were supposed to take that together."

"I wasn't going to drop Care." Harry shook his head.

"Are you sure, Harry?" Hermione bounced her leg. "I had to cinch the book closed with my belt. I've never treated a book like that before."

"You didn't stroke the spine?" Harry asked.

"No." Hermione raised her eyebrows at the question.

"Do it." Harry said. "It calms them down. Tickle the top corner of the cover and it will purr."

Hermione's eyes went wide. She rushed out of the common room and up the stairs.

"We've lost her." Ron groaned.

Harry looked to Ron with an unspoken question.

"You just told her she could make a book her pet." Ron shook his head.

"Oh." Harry drew the word out. "I shouldn't have told her that."

~§~ ~§~

Harry sat with a mingled accumulation of students from all four houses. Professor Andromeda Tonks, not Aunt Andi right now, smiled calmly as she waited for the rest of the class to fill in.

"Quite the turnout." Professor Tonks said. "Welcome to Practical Magic. This course will cover the many, many uses of magic in your daily life. This includes enchanting, charms, transfiguration, and runes. These are established techniques, so we won't have to worry about spell creation or Arithmancy."

The students waited for her to continue.

"So well behaved." Professor Tonks teased. "Most people think of cleaning and other spells used in food preparation. We will cover those, but there are more applications as well. Please take out your wands."

Professor Tonks walked them through the simply charms first. Cleaning, mending, repairing, and other maintenance spells.

"Now that I have thoroughly bored you all to tears." Professor Tonks laughed. "Let's talk about the nonconventional uses of the spells. Any ideas?"

"Dueling?" A Hufflepuff that he didn't recognize suggested.

"I'll give you ten points if can provide an example." Professor Tonks countered.

No one answered. After a moment everyone turned to look at Hermione. She gave them a smug smile.

"Use a cleaning charm on the dueling platform." Hermione offered.

"Ten points to Gryffindor." Professor Tonks replied. "Twenty points to anyone, other than Miss Granger, who can tell me another one."

Hermione let out a shocked gasp. She was the most vocal in class, but everyone knew that Harry had top marks. He just didn't like the attention.

"Mister Potter?" Professor Tonks prompted.

"Hermione has the right thought." Harry nodded to his friend. "Altering the environment is a good idea. A mending spell on the hem of a robe can cause a useful distraction. My favorite is a breath freshening spell, it will muddle vocal casting."

"Twenty points to Gryffindor." Professor Tonks inclined her head. "Catch up, my snakes. It pains me to give so many points to other houses."

That got a small chuckle from the class.

~§~ ~§~

"Hey, Potter!" A girl called from behind him.

Harry turned to see Pansy stomping toward him. She was dressed in the standard Slytherin colors, but her style had changed over the summer. Her look was set apart from the others by the black lipstick and dark eyeliner. He wasn't sure what had changed, but the new look was good on her. Her pale skin complimented the dark colors perfectly. His mother had told him that Lord Parkinson had approached her about a marriage contract for the two when they were much younger. She had denied it, and all others, on principle alone. That had caused even more tension between Harry and Pansy beyond the House Rivalry. She hadn't spoken to him in the last two years, but there were many, many glares.

"What, Parkinson?" Harry asked.

"You've got a handle on these new classes already." Pansy stated.

"Practical magic, yeah." Harry nodded. "I'm taking Alchemy next rotation."

He waited for her to continue. She grumbled something under her breath.

"I need a study partner." Pansy spat out. "You're the best bet."

"For one new class?" Harry asked.

"No. I'm not taking Alchemy." Pansy dropped her voice low. "I need help in Charms too."

"Oh." Harry blinked in a shock at the information. "Sure. When did you want to meet?"

"Saturday afternoon." Pansy visibly relaxed. "There's a big room on the third floor that will work."

Harry smiled at the realization.

"Did it smell like dog?" He asked.

"How did you know?" She raised her eyebrows at the question.

"Just a hunch." Harry laughed. "See you then." He paused. "This had better not be a trap for your dear Draco."

"Please." She rolled her eyes. "I want nothing to do with Malfoy."

Pansy stalked away before he could ask any more questions. The last he knew she was following Draco around like a lost puppy. He had no idea what had happened to cause that change. Harry was about to join his friends when someone else called for his attention.

"Mister Potter." Professor Tonks spoke from the doorway.

Harry turned and gave her his best 'who me' smile.

"A word." Professor Tonks stepped aside to allow him entry.

Harry shot Ron and Hermione a confused look which they returned.

"Go on, I'll meet you for lunch." Harry shrugged.

He stepped back into the classroom to join Professor Tonks. She waited for him at the front of the room. A subtle flick of her wand closed and locked the door. Harry jumped at the sound.

"Your mother spoke with my sister and I." Andromeda motioned for him to approach. "We'll continue your training through the school year. Wednesday evenings will be with Narcissa. Thursday will be with me. As long as it stays calm you'll have the weekend to yourself."

Harry's shoulders sagged. Of course.

"Is spending time with your old auntie so bad?" Andromeda pouted.

"You're not old." Harry rolled his eyes.

"Too old to keep your attention through class." Andi teased. "What was her name? The Hufflepuff you kept sneaking looks at?"

"I wasn't sneaking peaks at anyone." Harry felt his cheeks flush.

"Abbot." Andi snapped her fingers. "Cute, a little shy, but a good figure."

"Auntie!" Harry groaned.

"I'll see you Thursday evening." Andi dismissed him with a wicked smile. "Are you going to play Quidditch this year?"

"If I have the energy for it." Harry grumbled.

Andromeda watched him leave. An exasperated look crossed her face, but she didn't say anything to stop him. He had opened the door without a second thought, even though her spells were still in place. Harry was a walking powerhouse, a force of nature in the form of a human. He didn't know it, but every witch in the castle could feel it. A normal wizard needed a witch to even out their power. It was a shared loop that enriched and stabilized their magic. The stronger the wizard, the more witches he would need. Harry's magic hadn't fully developed yet, and he already needed someone to even him out. His spells were strong for his age, without a witch to stabilize him, he would be all over the place. It wouldn't be too long before his power was out of control and overcharged some spells while others would fizzle out.

Andi let out a sigh once she heard the lock click into place. She needed to gather herself before she went down for lunch. A new pair of panties wouldn't be a bad idea.

~ ~
Author Note:
Just to remind the readers. Hagrid didn't start officially teaching Care of Magical Creatures this year, hence them encountering the Monster Book of Monsters for the first time.
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